Direct Stimulation Device with Improved Drive

Abstract

Direct stimulation devices with improved drives are disclosed herein. An example stimulation device for a clitoris includes a stimulation head to contact the clitoris; a linear drive device coupled to the stimulation head and configured to cause the stimulation head to vibrate; a control device configured to control the drive device; a battery to supply power to the control device; and a housing. The control device and the battery are disposed in the housing.

The status of the claims: 
     
         1 . A stimulation device for a clitoris, the stimulation device comprising:
 a stimulation head to contact the clitoris;   a linear drive device coupled to the stimulation head, the linear drive device configured to cause the stimulation head to vibrate;   a control device configured to control the linear drive device;   a battery to supply power to the control device; and   a housing, the control device and the battery disposed in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device includes an electromagnetic linear actuator, the electromagnetic linear actuator including at least one stationary permanent magnet and at least one conductor movably arranged in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet the movably arranged conductor being movable in response to actuation of the control device ( 7 ) to generate vibrations. 
     
     
         3 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein vibration amplitude of the stimulation head is to be controlled by the control device independently of and vibration frequency of the stimulation head. 
     
     
         4 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device is configured to generate multi-frequency vibrations. 
     
     
         5 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device includes a moving coil assembly including a moving coil ( 62 ) and a vibrating element ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . The stimulation device  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device is configured to generate a maximum vibration amplitude of 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device is configured to cause amplitude-modulated and/or frequency-modulated vibrations of the stimulation head. 
     
     
         8 . The stimulation device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the linear drive device includes a membrane, the moving coil suspended via the membrane,   the moving coil to move in a magnetic field of a permanent magnet of the moving coil assembly in response to feeding a control current from the control device into the moving coil.   
     
     
         9 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , further including at least one stop element to protect the linear drive device against damage. 
     
     
         10 . The stimulation device of  claim 5 , wherein the stimulation head is exchangeably coupled to the vibrating element of the moving coil assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control device includes a signal generator configured to generate substantially rectangular, triangular or sawtooth-shaped vibrations;   the signal generator configured to at least one of (a) generate the triangular vibrations in a frequency range from approximately 20 to 170 Hz; or   the signal generator is configured to (b) generate the vibrations in a band over a continuous frequency range of at least 20 Hz.   
     
     
         12 . The stimulation device of  claim 8 , wherein the membrane is to seal the moving coil from an external environment with respect to of the stimulation device. 
     
     
         13 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , further including a sensor device to:
 detect one or more of an approach of the stimulation device towards the clitoris ( 12 ) or contact of the stimulation device with the clitoris; and   output an activation signal to the control device when the one or more of the approach or the contact is detected, the control device configured to activate the linear drive device in response to the activation signal.   
     
     
         14 . The stimulation device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor device is configured to generate and detect an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field being provided in the vicinity of the stimulation head. 
     
     
         15 . The stimulation device of  claim 5 , wherein the housing and the moving coil assembly are waterproof. 
     
     
         16 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the control device includes a random generator to generate a substantially random control pattern, the linear drive device to be controlled by the control device to provide random stimulation patterns corresponding to the vibrations of the stimulation head.   
     
     
         17 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , further including an extension in the form of a dildo for insertion into a vagina. 
     
     
         18 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an outer layer including silicone, rubber or a polymer, the outer layer at least partially enclosing the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , further including a heating element for heating the stimulation head. 
     
     
         20 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the stimulation head is removably coupled to the linear drive device.   
     
     
         21 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , further including a detection device for detecting an amplitude of vibrations of the stimulation head. 
     
     
         22 . The stimulation device of  claim 21 , wherein the detection device is communicatively coupled to the control device, the control device to respond to a detection signal from the detection device to at least partially compensate for damping of the vibration amplitude of the stimulation head when the stimulation head is placed on skin. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor device of a stimulation device, one or more of: (a) whether a stimulation head of the stimulation device is approaching a clitoris of a user or (b) whether the stimulation head is in contact with the clitoris;   when the one or more the approach or the contact is detected by the sensor device, generating, via the sensor device, an activation signal and outputting the activation signal to a control device of the stimulation device;   activating a drive device of the stimulation device in response to receipt of the activation signal by the control device; and   generating vibrations of the stimulation head via the drive device of to stimulate the clitoris ( 12 ).   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein generating the vibrations includes generating substantially rectangular or triangular or sawtooth-shaped vibrations. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein generating the vibrations includes generating vibrations having at least two simultaneously occurring vibration frequencies. 
     
     
         27 . The stimulation device of  claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic field is to be provided in front of the stimulation head. 
     
     
         28 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the control device provides at least one predefined control pattern, the linear drive device to be controlled by the control device such that the vibrations of the stimulation head provide a corresponding predefined stimulation pattern. 
     
     
         29 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein stimulation device is a hand-held device. 
     
     
         30 . The stimulation device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear drive device is an electromagnetic linear transducer free from moving permanent magnets.